Fundación Hispánica

In 1970, Leganés saw the establishment of CiudadEscuela Muchachos (CEMU), an educational and social project founded by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez, an architect and painter affectionately known as “Tío Alberto.” The goal of CEMU from the start was to provide at-risk youth with a safe home and a promising future.

Since then, this City-School has functioned as a refuge, home, and school, meeting the basic needs of these young people and fostering their academic and personal development.

The success of Tío Alberto’s initiative is reflected in its official recognition in 1985 as a Public Utility Entity. However, for “Tío Alberto”, the greatest reward is seeing how many of these young people have redirected their lives, avoiding crime and drug abuse. Most of the youngsters who pass through CEMU suffer not only from material but also from emotional deficiencies.

Every day, about 400 children and young people come to the City-School to study, receive professional training, or participate in recreational activities. This inclusive environment allows residents and external students to share time, studies, games, and hopes, creating a supportive and united community.

CEMU caters to two main groups: approximately 300 external students, from early childhood to secondary education, and an equal number of residents, c hildren and adolescents who cannot or do not want to live with their family for various reasons. Residents are admitted through recommendations from social services or requests from parents. They are usually at-risk youth who need a healthy and safe environment to grow up in.

Since 1986, various foundations have financially supported CEMU. Fundación Hispánica and the Foundation for Social Care (FAS; now the University Board) have been crucial in providing funding. Luis Valls was personally involved in these efforts, frequently visiting the City-School and maintaining a close relationship with “Tío Alberto” and the young residents. Financial aid, in the form of flexible loans, made the project viable. On August 21, 1990, mortgage deeds were signed for 20 years, securing loans totaling 3.185 million euros: 2.224 million from Fundación Hispánica and 961 million from the University Board.

This support, like many others, is essential to maintain and expand a project that transforms lives and makes a hopeful future possible for hundreds of young people each year. CEMU is a great example of integration that has grown, largely thanks to the young people who reside there. This ambitious project shows us that with enthusiasm and dedication, it is possible to build a better future for everyone.